Could someone tell me if caning originated as an exclusive punishment for schoolboys, or was it used as a form of judicial or institutional punishment before that?
As far as I know judicial and institutional CP always consisted of birchings or some kind of leather whips, both for juvenile and adult punishments.
The cane might have been adapted for judicial punishment in British colonial countries, but long after it was commonly used in English schools. I never heard of it being used for any punishment outside the school education system, including remand homes and such like special schools in Britain.
Any idea which school started it, and who came up with this ‘bright’ idea for keeping boys, and girls not to offend Jenny, in their place? I think Eton College is a good guess since it has long been a tradition there and is always mentioned in this connection.